Press Repeat as the BC Wine Information Centre Celebrates 30 Years

By Wine & Dine by Roslyne Buchanan

‘Press repeat’ for the exceptional experience at the BC Wine Information Centre is my advice to wine lovers.

While its locations within Penticton and its products have changed, the dedication to promoting BC wines remains constant at the BC Wine Information Centre as 30 years of operation are celebrated.

Staff greet you warmly each time you enter the store – now located at 553 Vees Drive beside Penticton’s Casino. Plus, the exquisite displays of featured wines and complementary merchandise quickly draw your attention.

If you start or finish your local wine tour here it is like adjusting your compass to guide your path to all the hidden treasures. Launching your tour here provides valuable intelligence with which to approach your journey. Ending here allows you to supplement your wine purchases and sometimes even gives you the opportunity to reconsider and buy that one wine you declined in the winery’s tasting room.

Of course, it is a great place to shop when you are looking for a perfect gift for a special occasion or if you just want to treat yourself. Find more than 1,000 wines representing over 170 wineries from every BC wine-producing region. Chilled white, rosé, and sparkling wines await in large fridges. You also can find ciders and low or dealcoholized beverages. Wine shipping services are available, too.

In addition, you can browse the thoughtfully curated selection of wine accessories, gourmet foods, local artisan products, books about food and wine, and creatively customized gift baskets.

Periodically, there are wine tasting seminars and events as well as tastings featuring special guest wineries. The BC VQA Insiders Wine Club is offered to those keen to enhance their knowledge and support the industry. As a member of it, you can look forward to hand-selected BC wines being delivered directly throughout the year.

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Thanks to dynamo Donna Faigaux, manager since 2017, I recently joined a joyous reception reuniting alumni and current staff including first employee Teresa Campbell.

Photographer Bill Blair capturing BC VQA Wine Information’s first employee Teresa Campbell joining Manager Donna Faigaux for 30th Anniversary reunion.

The 30-year milestone was marked with a photo shoot. The gleeful camaraderie in the room made evident the impact being part of this influential institution had on all, whether the folks were still deep in the trenches or had moved on to new ventures.

BC Wine Info Manager Donna Faigaux planning the 30th Anniversary staff reunion photo shoot with Penticton Herald columnist Shelora Sheldon and Photographer Bill Blair.

Donna exudes such passion. For the past 20 years, she has worked in small and large wineries and before taking on the role of manager, served on the board for 17 years. ‘’I am still excited by this work, and I love sharing the stories of BC wines,’’ she says. ‘’As the saying goes, there is a story in every bottle, so there is still much to tell.’’

Like Donna, staff here are not merely working in sales. Staff are participating in a mission. No wonder they were delighted to return for a reunion reception.

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Mission Possible: The First BC VQA Wine ExclusiveThe BC VQA Wine Information Centre opened in Penticton in 1996 as the first special license store permitted to sell exclusively BC VQA wines. Operated by the non-profit BC Wine Information Society, it was established to promote regional vineyards and act as an educational gateway for BC wine tourists.

Thanks to this non-profit status, every purchase made contributes directly back into the community through educational resources, bursaries, and scholarships for the next generation of viticulture students. The BC Wine Information Centre has helped reinvest in the wine industry in such initiatives as the kitchen and sensory lab at Okanagan College.

The BC VQA program is an appellation of origin system, similar to the AOC and DOC systems utilized in France and Italy respectively, and it guarantees origin and ensures that qualifying wines meet certain minimum quality requirements. For more information on its origin, and what it stands for, click on “British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance”.

Join The 30th Celebrations

Celebrations continue throughout 2026. This Thursday, July 30, Trudy Heiss, co-founder of Gray Monk Estate Winery and one of the pioneers of British Columbia’s wine industry will be on site 2 to 3:30 pm. She’ll be signing copies of Decanting Memories, the inspiring story she co-authored with her late husband, George Heiss, sharing their journey of founding Gray Monk Estate Winery and helping shape the BC wine industry. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the BC Hospitality Foundation, supporting members of BC’s hospitality community in times of financial need.

Check out the BC Wine Information Centre website for the latest news and Tasting Schedule.

Mireille Sauve and Kim Lawton invite everyone to participate in 30th Anniversary events at the BC VQA Wine Information Centre

Article Link: Press Repeat as the BC Wine Information Centre Celebrates 30 Years